Nearly flawless in his last start, Matt Harvey took his lumps today, but on a positive note rebounded and regained control. Harvey gave up a three-run homer to Washington’s Bryce Harper in the first inning, but rebounded to throw three scoreless innings and strike out six in an 8-5 loss. Harvey settled down to retire 11 of the final 12 hitters against him; a very good sign for any pitcher let alone a young one after a rough start. [...]

The Mets are holding conclave this spring as they seek out a center field replacement for the departed Andres Torres. Jordany Valdespin is not an easy person to like, and especially hard to cheer for, but he’s become a leading candidate. Ask him a question and he’ll often mumble an indifferent and inaudible answer. He exudes confidence on the field, but crosses the line with a brash attitude, tendency to showboat and not always hustle. Off [...]

According to the Star-Ledger, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spent some time on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio channel yesterday discussing the Mets. Christie has been a long-time Mets fan, and will be in the stands on April 1 when the Mets take on the San Diego Padres on opening day. Christie went through a list of players he likes, which he considers the nucleus, and includes David Wright, Ike Davis and Daniel Murphy. He’s also excited [...]

Here it was, the fifth inning and Terry Collins was sending out Matt Harvey again. With his pitch count down, Collins had sent Harvey out for the fourth and was doing it again. Harvey’s command was that good. “I was very impressed (by his pitch count),’’ Collins said. “If he’s going to pitch 215 innings, he’ll be getting deep into games and pitching to contact.’’A lot of things will have to click for that to happen, notably his change-up. [...]

Johan Santana will make his first Grapefruit League next Thursday, March 14, when the Mets play the Detroit Tigers, according to John Delcos of Metsmerized Online. That would leave three starts before the start to the season. Pitching coach Dan Warthen told Delcos that Santana is making progress after throwing a long-toss session on Monday and that notable gains have been made on velocity and arm strength. Terry Collins said that both he and Johan Santana are on the same [...]

When Terry Collins was introduced as Mets manager on November 23rd, 2010, he was far from the unanimous choice amongst those who cover the team.  Known more for his short temper and self-destructive ways than his managing prowess, many feared the aging skipper may not be up for the job. Two years later, the now 63 year old Collins boasts a 151-173 record since his arrival and enters the season on the final year of [...]

After a handful of games, this much is certain about the Mets’ porous outfield situation: Nothing has been settled. We know Lucas Duda is expected to play left field, but center field and right field are open. Wide open, it seems. Going into spring training, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Collin Cowgill were penciled in as a platoon in center, while veteran Marlon Byrd and Mike Baxter were going to be a right field platoon. “The outfield is definitely a question mark, collectively,’’ Sandy Alderson said. “I [...]

Updated by Joe D. on 2/27 We may hear those words blare over the Citi Field PA system one day in the near future during a Mets game… Maybe… Whether or not Wilmer Flores should be handed an outfield glove has been debated quite passionately on MMO many times over the last several months. We’ve all debated the pros and cons of such a move, and obviously so have the Mets. As Andrew Keh of [...]

Wilmer Flores played second base yesterday in a Spring Training game for the Mets. Flores did not embarrass himself defensively and looked to have an idea offensively. So after roughly six innings it is safe to christen a man with 0 AB above Double-A with the starting second base job? No. Nope. Nah. Negative. Not Yet. Flores has even less MiLB experience at 2B than Daniel Murphy did when he tried a similar transition, and [...]